Letters to the editor for Feb. 22, 2013

No compassionI was at the Marion County Commission meeting Tuesday, Feb. 19, and during public comment spoke up for a "yes" vote for the Amendment 11 tax exemption for low-income seniors — which 61 percent of us voted for and now our own commissioners have denied.As the commissioners gave their reasons for not voting for the exemption, I realized how far apart we are in values. What I heard was contempt for anyone who felt compassion, self-righteousness and twisted logic. It's sad because now I know why Marion County will be sold to the highest bidder.I got up as the commissioners were justifying their vote and, with other citizens, walked out.Judy EtzlerMicanopy

Complex issuesThe subject of fatherless homes is indeed a very serious and difficult one. Unfortunately, it is rooted in a vast array of societal issues too great for any one person, even the president, to make any progress toward change — gender inequality, racial inequality and financial inequality to name only a few.Society as a whole must come together to address the many problems we face as a nation. This is no easy task. Fatherless homes are only one element in the greater scheme of our current problems. Finger-pointing and fear mongering are not helpful in resolving any of these current issues.Deborah ParsonsOcala

A good dealYour recent op-ed column calling for the repeal of the nuclear cost recovery fee incorrectly asserts that nuclear-plant development costs are advanced under current law. Rather, it allows periodic hearings to consider previously expended costs so that we ratepayers do not have to pay unnecessary interest charges on plants that take longer to construct.This is good economics. It already resulted in expansion of two existing Florida nuclear plants providing an additional 500 megawatts of electricity with zero emission of greenhouse gases. The cost was less than the money saved from not having to buy the fossil fuel that would have been necessary without the nuclear plant expansions.For five decades we Floridians have enjoyed cleaner air and lower electric bills because of our nuclear plants. The percentage of nuclear has dropped from 20 percent to about 12 percent due to population growth without new nuclear plant construction. The pay-as-you-go financing is necessary to catch up. We should resist efforts by opponents to repeal this law. The repeal would result in more air emissions and more expensive electricity.As a Sarasota County resident who reads the Ocala Star-Banner, and as a nuclear engineer, former member of the Florida Legislature and former deputy administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, I support new nuclear energy and oppose the currently proposed repeal legislation.Jerry PaulVenice

Unusual trauma caseAs a physician, I have been interested in the Star-Banner articles about the new trauma center at Ocala Regional Medical Center. One case of particular interest that has been cited twice involves a man who had life-threatening bleeding.The bleeding occurred during an outpatient procedure attempting to fix a splenic artery aneurysm. Until I read about this case, I used to think that trauma involved a serious accident at home, in the community or on the road.Aneurysms involving visceral arteries are uncommon. Small ones rarely rupture or cause symptoms. Large ones can be tricky to fix. A doctor's office is an unusual place for trauma to occur.I hope state and hospital authorities and trauma teams investigate this unusual case of trauma.Dr. Robert FeldmanMedical DirectorCardiac Catheterization LaboratoryMunroe Regional Medical CenterOcala

Stranded ship of stateHow do we resolve the abhorrent conduct of our elected officials who claim guardianship as the keepers of the keys to our democracy? I would like to propose a solution for the cross-aisle juveniles.Charter the Carnival Cruise Lines' feces-soaked ship in its current state of repair, ship Congress out to mid-ocean and prohibit members from returning until they have resolved the catastrophic issues before the mast. I cannot believe that the conditions of life differ much from the great chambers of our elected government board could possibly mirror those in our sacred halls.Perhaps a few meals of bread, mayo and onion can do what patriotism, decency and honor cannot.Manny AbrabenOcala

Obama's humiliationWell, I don't know about y'all, but the news lately is getting more interesting by the day. It started with the Benghazi fiasco and continues along the same venue.The story starts with the "60 Minutes" interview with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by correspondent Steve Kroft. Before you stop laughing, to you who actually saw them, I want to know how many of you watched the Congressional hearings of the questions given to Clinton by the gushing members of the committee about her role in the Benghazi attack. Especially the part where she answered, "What difference, at this point, does it make?"That's the part that hurts most, when you think of the Americans who died.Then we had on the news a video of the White House prayer breakfast with Dr. Benjamin Carson speaking, with a disgruntled Obama looking on during a rather scorching assay of the Obama health plan. The president was not laughing.The cover-up of real facts on the Benghazi story from Obama and Clinton becomes another humiliation of the current regime, but to all of us, the four Americans will remain in question forever.Hank StevensOcala